Corset.



M. TOWELL.

' CORSET.'

APPLICATION FILED 0013,1910,

1,083,470 Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

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CORSET.

APPLICATION FILED 0013, 1910.

1,083,470. Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

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UNETED TATFJS PATENT OFFICE.

MINNIE TOWELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CORSET.

Application filed October 3, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MINNIE TowELL, citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in womens garments andparticularly to a combined corset and abdominal belt.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved garment consistingof a corset and an abdominal belt adapted to be worn together about thebody or worn separately, without discomfort.

In the usual construction of abdominal belts the back part is madenarrow and in consequence it exerts a pressure upon a small part of theback of the wearer, which produces pain and often serious injuries.,IVith an ordinary corset it is impossible to restrict an enlargedabdomen, due to obesity, displacements or increase in the size of theabdominal organs, since the restricting means depends on the strength ofthe lacing, and the steel stays used in its manufacture, and it is foundinadvisable to increase the strength of the steel stays beyond a certainlimit, because of the added weight. When this form of corset is used theabdomen is forced downwardly and inwardly, thereby causing seriousdiscomforture to the wearer, in the event of prolapsus of any of the a dacent organs. For the relief of prolapsus in the region of the abdomenit is necessary that the abdomen be lifted away from the affected parts,so as to relieve in jurious pressure thereon.

The present invention is designed to provide a combined corset andabdominal supporting belt which will effectively support the abdomen andthe adjacent body parts, and at the same time exert a pressure over awide part of the back of the wearer, instead of over a narrow or limitedarea thereof.

WVith the above and other objects in view the invention comprisescertain combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view showing the combined garment applied to a person, withthe corset partly open, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the front part of anabdominal belt, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the back thereof, Fig. 4 is arear elevation of the corset and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

Serial No. 585,053.

belt, Fig. 5 is a side View of the belt applied to a wearer, and Fig. 6is a perspective view of the abdominal belt.

' Referring to the drawings 1 denotes the front abdominal engagingportion of the supporting belt, which portion is curved downwardly at 2so as to extend downwardly between the thighs and is provided withoutwardly extending arms 8 and 4. Above the curved portion 2, which isadapted to fit against the lower side of an abdomen, a vertical support5 extends so as to fit against the central parts of the front side of awearers body, as shown in Fig. 1. The entire belt is made of elastic orother material so as to neatly conform to the curves of a body, and isprovided with vertical stays 6, extending from the tip of the verticalsupport 5 to the lower part of the curved portion, and with stays 7 and8, which are diagonally disposed on either side of the stays 6,extending from the curved portion 2, where the lower ends of all thestays are brought together to the upper edges of the arms 3 and 4. Inthis way the strains upon the central part of the belt are absorbedwithout materially weakening this part of the belt. By converging thelower ends of the stays toward a common point the central part of thebelt is made to comfortably fit the inwardly curved portion of theabdomen, and to thereby secure a good purchase so that the abdomen andthe local organs can be lifted, as in the case of prolapsus, or properlysupported.

The ends of the arms 3 and 4 are provided with buckles 9 and 10 whichare adapted to be secured to straps 11 and 12 of the corset 13. Thestraps 11 and 12 are secured.to the inside of the wings of the corset insuch a manner as to throw the strains placed upon the forward part ofthe belt over a wide area of the wearers back.

WVith an ordinary corset it is impossible to apply at a given part ofthe body the pressure required to control the abdomen properly. With theimproved garment or combined corset and abdominal belt the wearer canreadily exert any pressure required and lace the corset withoutdifficulty.

\Vhen it is desired to use the forward part of the belt independently ofthe corset a back member 14 is employed having a depending centralportion 14 to form an increased bearing on the back of a wearer in orderto distribute the pressure over a widened area. This member is providedwith straps 15 and 16 to engage with the buckles 9 and 10, so that saidback member can be secured wit-h the forward member around the body ofthe wearer.

Having described my invention I claim A device of the characterdescribed comprising a supporting member, a removable elastic abdominalbelt adapted to be held thereby, said belt consisting of an invertedT-shaped member formed of fibrous material, said belt being formed withan outer.

substantially inwardly diverging edge being rounded at its central part,the portion of said belt bounded by said diverging edge constituting themajor portion of the area of the cross-piece of the T-shaped belt, anelongated stem joining said cross-piece and being disposed at a medianline of said cross-piece, said stem being rounded at its free end andhaving spacednearly parallel edges, said stem merging with the inneropposlte edges of said cross-piece whlch converge inwardly and formlateral wings of a substantially uniform width, a plurality of staysmounted in parallel relation upon said stem and terminating in therounded part of said outer edge, and a plurality of stays mounted uponthe cross-piece of said belt connecting the outer and inner edgesthereof and converging in contiguous relation toward the rounded part ofsaid outer edge. 7

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

MINNIE TOWVELL.

lVitnesses HERMAN D. MANDEL, S. TREBITSCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G.

